Shoulder Pain Relief With Acupuncture & Dry Needling | Metairie LA
What Shoulder Pain Feels Like
Shoulder pain is common and can make everyday tasks hard.
You might notice:
- Pain reaching overhead or behind your back
- Trouble sleeping on one side
- Weakness lifting objects
- A dull ache, sharp twinge, or tightness
Shoulder pain often shows up in active professionals, people who train or stay physically active, and those managing long hours of tension or stress in their daily routines.
Movement depends on a complex mix of muscles, tendons, and joints. When one part isn’t moving right, the whole shoulder can hurt.
Will Acupuncture Help Shoulder Pain?
For many people, the answer is yes. Acupuncture can help shoulder pain by reducing irritation, relaxing tight muscles, improving blood flow, and supporting the nervous system’s ability to calm pain signals.
Shoulder pain can also often be caused by muscle tension, tendon irritation, joint restriction, or nerve involvement from the neck or upper back. Acupuncture works by addressing both the painful area and the surrounding tissues that affect how the shoulder moves and stabilizes during daily activities.
Common Shoulder Conditions We See
People come in with shoulder pain for different reasons, but many share similar movement patterns and symptoms.
Rotator Cuff–Related Pain
Pain or weakness with lifting, reaching, or overhead movement caused by irritated or overworked shoulder muscles and tendons.
Shoulder Impingement Patterns
Discomfort that occurs when certain movements feel pinched or restricted due to muscle tension or limited joint space.
Frozen or Stiff Shoulder Patterns (Adhesive Capsulitis)
Gradual stiffness and reduced range of motion that can make everyday movements difficult.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the shoulder can cause sharp pain with movement, tenderness, and discomfort when lying on the affected side.
Muscle Knots / Trigger Points
Tight, sensitive muscle areas can create localized pain or refer discomfort into the shoulder, arm, or upper back, often limiting range of motion.
Referred Pain from the Neck or Upper Back
Restrictions or tension in the neck or upper back can send pain into the shoulder, even when the shoulder itself does not feel injured.
What Causes Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain is common and can affect work, sleep, exercise, and daily tasks. The shoulder depends on several muscles, tendons, and joints working together. When one area becomes tight, weak, or irritated, pain and movement problems can develop.
Common patterns and causes include:
Everyday Strain & Overuse
Repetitive reaching, lifting, overhead work, gym activity, manual labor, or sleeping on one side for long periods.
Poor Posture & Muscle Imbalance
Forward head posture, rounded shoulders, weak upper back muscles, or tight chest and neck muscles that change how the shoulder moves.
Rotator Cuff Irritation or Strain
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help lift and stabilize the shoulder. Repetitive use, poor mechanics, sudden overload, or gradual tendon wear can cause pain, weakness, or limited range of motion — especially when lifting the arm, reaching overhead, or lying on the affected side.
Neck & Upper Back Involvement
Joint restriction, muscle tension, or nerve irritation in the neck or upper back can refer pain into the shoulder and limit movement.
Injuries & Accidents
Falls, sports injuries, sudden movements, or awkward lifting that strain muscles or reduce shoulder stability.
Age-Related Changes
Normal wear over time, tendon thickening, arthritis, and reduced joint space that affect shoulder comfort and mobility.
Scar Tissue & Restricted Movement
Previous injuries or surgeries that limit normal motion and place added stress on surrounding tissues. Scar tissue and adhesions can also limit normal movement in this area.
Lifestyle & System Stressors
Stress (increases muscle guarding), poor sleep, dehydration, illness, smoking, or cold and damp weather that can worsen stiffness and pain.
How Acupuncture and Dry Needling Help Shoulder Pain
Acupuncture and dry needling use fine, sterile needles to help reduce pain and improve how the shoulder moves. While the techniques may differ slightly, both work by influencing muscles, nerves, and circulation around the shoulder and upper body.
Together, these approaches help by:
- Pain Relief: supporting the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals, such as endorphins.
- Reduced Muscle Tension: Tight or overworked muscles can pinch nerves and limit movement. Needling helps release these tight areas, reduce muscle guarding, improve fluid exchange in the tissues, and restore more normal movement patterns.
- Reduced Inflammation: It modulates the inflammatory response, decreasing swelling and pressure around the local and surrounding areas.
- Improved Blood Flow: Acupuncture boosts circulation to the affected area, bringing oxygen and nutrients that support tissue repair, reduce spasmed areas, and help reduce pressure on irritated nerves.
- Supporting Nerve Function: As muscle tension decreases and circulation improves, nerves are better able to signal normally, which can reduce numbness, tingling, or weakness.
- Improving sleep by reducing nighttime pain, stiffness, and discomfort that can make it hard to lie on one side or stay asleep
- Improving Mobility & Strength: With less irritation and better nerve signaling, people often notice improved range of motion, easier movement, and better strength during daily activities.
Research shows that needle-based treatments can help people with shoulder pain feel less pain and move more comfortably, including those with rotator cuff-related pain, stiffness, and restricted range of motion.
What this means for you
Treatment is not just about calming pain in the moment. By improving muscle balance, circulation, and nerve function, acupuncture and dry needling can help the shoulder work more normally so symptoms are less likely to keep returning.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The number of treatments depends on a few factors and happens in phases:
Your Symptom Stage (Relief → Correction / Root Cause → Maintenance)
Relief: calming pain, tension, or nerve irritation
Correction / Root cause: correcting movement, strength, or structural issues
Maintenance: preventing flare-ups and supporting long-term function
Acute conditions:
If you’re dealing with recent injuries or sudden issues within the last few months, you may notice significant improvement after just a few sessions. Typically acute conditions require only 1–5 treatments compared to long-term issues.
Chronic conditions:
Chronic issues or long-term systemic conditions usually require more sessions. A typical plan involves 2 visits per week for the first 2–3 weeks, with treatments spreading out as you progress. Chronic issues often need more total sessions and may benefit from follow-up or maintenance care.
Maintenance:
Many patients choose occasional visits to keep pain from returning and to support active lifestyles.
We’ll regularly reassess your progress and adjust your treatment plan as you improve.
What to Expect During Treatment
At your visit, we will:
- Review your health history and symptoms
- Talk about mood, stress, and energy patterns
- Check areas of physical tension
- Perform mobility and strength assessment
- Create a care plan that fits your needs
- Begin treatment
Treatment may include:
- Acupuncture
- Gentle bodywork
- Cupping or gua sha when helpful
- Herbal Medicine
- Recommended at-home exercises
- Lifestyle change recommendations
When to Seek Care
Consider an evaluation if you notice any of the following:
- Pain stops you from sleeping on one side
- Weakness or strength issues while lifting weight
- Issues raising your arm above your head for reaching or lifting.
- Pain lasts more than a few weeks
- Over-the-counter meds help only temporarily
Frequently Asked Questions
Can acupuncture help rotator cuff pain?
Yes. Acupuncture can help reduce pain, muscle tension, and irritation around the rotator cuff. Many people notice improved movement and less discomfort with lifting, reaching, or sleeping on the affected side.
Is acupuncture / dry needling safe?
Yes. Both acupuncture and dry needling are minimally invasive and safe when done by trained clinicians.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and First Visit page for more common questions:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Schedule a Visit
If shoulder pain is limiting your sleep, work, or movement, you don’t have to push through it.
At Big Easy Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine in Metairie, we focus on understanding why your shoulder hurts and creating a clear plan to help you move more comfortably again.
📞 Call or text 504-650-0027
💻 Schedule online anytime: bigeasyacu.janeapp.com
